Apparatus for sterilizing and descaling toilet bowls



April 1963 L. M. CORNING 3,084,872

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING AND DESCALING TOILET BOWLS Filed April 11, 1961 Leon M. Corning United States Patent 3,084,872 APPARATUS FUR STERILIZING AND DESCALING TOILET BQWLS Leon M. Corning, Redwood City, Calif., assignor to Advance (Ihemical Company, San Francisco, Calif., a

partnership Filed Apr. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 102,287 2 Claims. (Cl. 239-333) This invention relates to new and improved apparatus tor sterilizing and descaling toilet bowls. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for controlled spraying of a chemical substance into the crevice in the rim of the toilet bowl, whereby the cavity in the bowl rim is sterilized as is the entire exposed surface of the bowl from top to bottom. Thus, a more effective use of the chemical is achieved.

Although various chemicals may be used for the foregoing purpose, the present invention is particularly useful in spraying a chemical having an iodophor solution with a high acid concentration. The iodophor solution is an effective sterilizer and the hydrochloric acid descales the bowl. One particular composition which is effective has the following percentages by volume:

Percent Hydrochloric acid 9.50 Iodophor 0.15 Synthetic detergent 1.00 Essential oil 0.20 Water Balance Solutions such as that heretofore described are somewhat dangerous to handle, in that the skin of the user may be afiected, particularly when rubber gloves are not worn, and if the spray comes in contact with the eye considerable harm may occur. Further, it is desirable that the spray be confined to the bowl since it may deleteriously affect various floor tilings and compositions. The present invention has for one of its principal objects the control and confinement of the spray of the chemical.

A still further purpose of the invention is the provision of apparatus wherein the danger of breakage or spillage is for practical purposes eliminated.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a manually operated pump, which pumps a controlled and preselected volume of chemical :for eifective dispersal in the bowl cavity. The apparatus hereinafter described in detail employs a flexible tube connected to the pump and leading to a spray head, the flexibility of the tube and its length being selected for convenient and efficient operation.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a clamp on the flexible tube which is closed to prevent drippage of the chemical between uses. However, the clamp has a further important function in that it is located at a pre-selected distance from the end of the tube so that the clamp may be used as a guide when placed in contact with the rim of the bowl to direct the spray emitted from the end of the tube into the cavity, as heretofore mentioned.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a kit consisting of a spray apparatus as heretofore described which is installed in a plastic pitcher-shaped container, which pitcher-shaped container also includes a mop or swab which may be used to swab the solution around the bowl after it has been applied to the upper rim thereof. Preferably the kit may also contain a small hand mirror which may be used to inspect the bowl after it has been treated.

Although the apparatus, which is the subject of the invention, has particular application in the servicing of toilet bowls, it will be understood that it may be used 3,084,872 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 for other fixtures where similar problems of sanitation and descaling are encountered.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and refer. ring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away in section, showing the apparatus used in descaling and sanitizing the rim of a toilet bowl.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper end of the bottle and pump.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly broken away in section showing the outer end of the tube and the clamp.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the kit heretofore described and hereinafter described in detail.

The apparatus, which is the subject of this invention, is essentially lightweight, conveniently handled and not subject to breakage. It is intended primarily for use by commercial janitorial service companies, but may be used by householders as well. The solution, which preferably is of a germicidal and a descaling nature and hence is relatively dangerous to handle in uncontrolled fashion and which may have the formula set forth earlier in this application, is best contained in a plastic bottle 11 of approximately one-quart capacity. Such a bottle has a screw neck 12. A manually operated pump 13 is installed on the neck of the bottle and for such purpose there is a cap 14 which is internally threaded and screws over neck 12 and is provided with an aperture 16. An annular gasket 17 in the top of cap 14 seals against the neck to prevent leakage. Pump body 18 is inserted extending through aperture 16 and gasket 17 and terminating in an elongated tube 19 which fits down to the bottom of bottle 11. Exteriorly of cap 14 are finger grips 21 under which the first and second fingers of the user are curled in the operation of the pump as hereinafter described. Pump body 18 has a cylindrical chamber 22 at its upper end which tapers downwardly to a ball seat 23, the seat receiving a ball 24 which functions as a check valve. Ball 24 may be of a non-corrosive material, such as stainless steel. Below ball seat 23 is an enlarged surge chamber 26 and below surge chamber 26 is tube,19. Vertically slidable in chamber 23 is a plunger 27 having a central plunger cavity 28 and having below cavity 23 a rubber or rubber-like seal 29 which at its upper end 31 is of restricted diameter to fit within plunger cavity 28 and at its lower end flares outwardly for sealing engagement with the interior of chamber 22. A helical spring 31 is interposed between the lower end of gasket 29 and a contraction 32 at the bottom of pump chamber 22. The lower end 33 of springs 31 is bent inwardly in a smaller diameter section which is spaced upwardly from a ball seat 23 to restrict upward movement of ball 24 but to permit the ball to rise during the upstroke of plunger 27. The plunger 27 is formed with a shoulder 36 on its exterior which engages neck 37 on cap 14 to limit the upward movement of plunger 27. A pair of breather holes 35 is formed in the upper end of chamber 28 immediately below gasket 17 to prevent air trom being trapped behind gasket 29 on the upward stroke of the pump and to permit air to follow the plunger 27 on the downward stroke. At the upper end, plunger 27 is 'formed with an upper ball seat 38 of restricted diameter in which is positioned upper ball 39. A downward rounded protrusion 41 in the top of the upper cavity 42 limits movement of ball 39. Extending sidewardly from the upper end of plunger cavity 42 is a tip 43 connected to cavity 42 by means of orifice 44. An upwardly facing semi-circular ring 46 is formed on the top of plunger 27 for the thumb of the user. Thus, when the user grips the finger grips 21 and presses downwardly on ring 46', plunger 27 is depressed in chamber 22 causing liquid which has previously been pumped into the cavity to rise up to chamber 28, lifting check-ball 39 and thence out to -tip.43. When the plunger is released it is lifted by spring 31 and because of the sealing engagement of gasket 29 on cylinder 22 the liquid is sucked up through tube 19, thereby lifting lower check-ball 24 and filling the chamber 28 for the next downward stroke of the pump.

Attached to tip 43 is a flexible tube 51, which is of a corrosive resistant material such as neoprene rubber and of the length of approximately fifteen inches. On the outer end of tube 51 is a fitting 52 consisting of a second tip 53 which receives the outer end of tube 51 and which has a right-angle bend 54 with an outwardly facing circular disc 56 with a recessed face 57 installed at the end thereof. Disc56 has a small spray hole 58 through which the liquid is sprayed. A clamp 61 is installed on tube 51 to pinch off the flow of liquid through the tube after usage. It will be-noted that tip 53iis of about threequarter inch length so as to prevent clamp 61 from moving closer to the end of the tube than the length of tip 53. Clampfil is of a commonly-used type in cutting off flow through tubes and .for such purpose has an apertured end plate 6-2 through which tube 51 fits, the upper end of plate 62 being formed withan inwardly directed latch portion 63. Below and extending at right angles to end plate 62 is the bottom portion 64, which hasan upwardly offset bend 66 at about its midpoint. The forward end 67 of the clamp is apertured to receive tube 51 and rounded in a 360 bend and merges with top 68 extending forwardly to a downwardly offset bend 69 and then terminates in an upwardly slanted second latch portion 71.

The outer end of slanted portion 71 may fit under the latch portion 63 on the forward end 62. Thus, when the user presses downwardly on the slanted portion 71 until it locks under latch portion 63 the two bends 66, 69 move toward each other and pinch off flow through tube 51. When the forward end plate 62 is pushed outwardly with the thumb, the latches 62, 71 disengage permitting the clamp to open, as shown in FIG. 3.

The front plate 62 of latch 61 performs an important function, as is best shown in FIG. 1. Thus, it may be positioned against the rim 76 of bowl 77 and by reason of the length of tip 53 the spray orifice 58 at the end of fitting 52 directs the fiowinto the crevice 78 at the bowl rim and thence through the:- apertures 79 into the cavity 81 in rim 76. This insures that the liquid reaches the most inaccessible portions of the bowl and then runs down by gravity throughout the entire surface of bowl '77 and into the trap 82.

A suitable kit for use of the apparatus employs a plastic pitcher 86 of a diameter sufficient to accommodate the diameter of bottle 11. During storage the clamp 61 is slipped over one of the finger grips 21 thereby holding the tube 51 in a folded position, as shown in FIG. 4. A mop-type swab 87 having a small diameter wooden handle 88 and a yarn-mop portion 80 fits into pitcher 86 and a hand mirror 91 having handle 92 is also provided, the mirror being useful to examine the rim 76 to insure the proper descaling and sanitation thereof.

The foregoing described apparatus is thus conveniently used in disinfecting and descaling toilet bowls 77, the pump 13 being used to spray a controlled and pro-selected quantity of liquid into the crevice 78 where it reaches the cavity in the bowl rim and also flows down the sides of the bowl. This controlled and convenient means of applying the spray is safe in that hands of the user do not come in contact with the spray and is also more highly efficient than previous methods of application.

The swab 89 may be used to clean the bowl, although gravity tends to bring the liquid into contact with the surfaces treated.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail, by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced Within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for disinfecting toilet bowls and similar sanitary fixtures comprising a portable, light weight container for disinfecting liquid, a neck on said container, a pump extending through said neck into said container, a finger-actuated plunger for said pump at the top of said neck, a handle for said container in close proximity to said plunger whereby the user may support said container and actuate said plunger with a single hand, said pump formed with a discharge port adjacent said neck, an elongated flexible tube of non-corrodable material attached to said discharge port and receiving the discharge of said pump, said flexibletube having a length at least twice the height of said container, a discharge fitting on the outer end of said flexible tube, said fitting formed with a discharge spray orifice, whereby the user with one hand may support said container and actuate said plunger to pump liquid from said container out through said spray orifice and with the other hand may direct a desired quantity of said'li'quid through said spray orifice to selected areas in the bowl, and guide means on said .flexible tube spaced from said spray orifice a predetermined distance to space said spray orifice a distance from a bowl rirn such as to direct spray from said orifice into the crevice in said bowl rim to direct the contents of said bottle into said crevice.

2. Apparatus for'disinfecting toilet bowls and similar sanitary fixtures comprising a portable, light weight container for disinfecting liquid of a capacity such that the container and contents may be supported with the fingers of one hand, a neck on said container, a pump extending through said neck into said container, a finger-actuated plunger for said pump at the top of said neck, a handle for said container in close proximity to said plunger whereby the user may support said container and actuate said plunger with a single hand, said pump formed with a discharge port adjacent said neck, an elongated flexible tube of non-corrodable. material attached to said discharge port and receiving the discharge of said pump, said flexible tube having a length at least twice the height of said container, and a discharge fitting on the outer end of said flexible tube, said fitting having an elongated tip fitting into the outer end of said tube, said fitting formed with a discharge spray orifice substantially at right angles to said tip, whereby the user with one hand may support said container and actuate said plunger to pump liquid from said' container out through said spray orifice and with the other hand may direct a desired quantity of said liquid through said spray orifice to selected areas in the owl.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 170,592 Rath Nov. 30, 1875 455,392 Ellis July 7, 1891 ;682,269 Poe Sept. 10, 1901 800,254 Willis Sept. 26, 1905 823,068 Mosley June 12, 1906 827,640 Jessup July 31, 1906 2,038,778 Williams Apr. 28, 1936 2,709,542 Eller et al. May 31, 1955 2,787,501 Tuma Apr. 2, 1957 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING TOILET BOWLS AND SIMILAR SANITARY FIXTURES COMPRISING A PORTABLE, LIGHT WEIGHT CONTAINER FOR DISINFECTING LIQUID, A NECK ON SAID CONTAINER, A PUMP EXTENDING THROUGH SAID NECK INTO SAID CONTAINER, A FINGER-ACTUATED PLUNGER FOR SAID PUMP AT THE TOP OF SAID NECK, A HANDLE FOR SAID CONTAINER IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID PLUNGER WHEREBY THE USER MAY SUPPORT SAID CONTAINER AND ACTUATE SAID PLUNGER WITH A SINGLE HAND, SAID PUMP FORMED WITH A DISCHARGE PORT ADJACENT SAID NECK, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE TUBE OF NON-CORRODABLE MATERIAL ATTACHED TO SAID DISCHARGE PORT AND RECEIVING THE DISCHARGE OF SAID PUMP, SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE HAVING A LENGTH AT LEAST TWICE THE HEIGHT OF SAID CONTAINER, A DISCHARGE FITTING ON THE OUTER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE, SAID FITTING FORMED WITH A DISCHARGE SPRAY ORIFICE, WHEREBY THE USER WITH ONE HAND MAY SUPPORT SAID CONTAINER AND ACTUATE SAID PLUNGER TO PUMP LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER OUT THROUGH SAID SPRAY ORIFICE AND WITH THE OTHER HAND MAY DIRECT A DESIRED QUANTITY OF SAID LIQUID THROUGH SAID SPRAY ORIFICE TO SELECTED AREAS IN THE BOWL, AND GUIDE MEANS ON SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE SPACED FROM SAID SPRAY ORIFICE A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TO SPACE SAID SPRAY ORIFICE A DISTANCE FROM A BOWL RIM SUCH AS TO DIRECT SPRAY FROM SAID ORIFICE INTO THE CREVICE IN SAID BOWL RIM TO DIRECT THE CONTENTS OF SAID BOTTLE INTO SAID CREVICE. 